Artist Statement:

Branthwaite’s work spans a broad range of approaches where sites, subject and context interplay to create the specific content of each work. Seminal points in his career have forced direction changes and reconsideration of methodologies. In 2001 a residency at Red Gallery in Hull brought about interests in art making and the position of the Artifact within Art Practice. An Arts Council England Graduate placement in 2004 started what is still a key concern- The link between form and Function that acts as a metaphor for the dialogue between concept and art work.

Branthwaites work often alludes to a function or utilitarian use but constantly avoids any clear usage or clear meaning. This tension is created to provoke a question of the objects and environments that make up the fabric of our daily existence. Recent work includes the creation of sculptures that reference flat-pack furniture and installations that adjust ways of seeing and experiencing environments.

The work presented here is influenced by radical architectural thinking and introduces concepts of regeneration outside of the ‘city living’ approach. The ‘additional’ buildings in the image are made of collections of images of ceramic goods. This use of local materials and skills aims to draw on new questions about the innovation that could be incorporated in urban regeneration projects but is often omitted in favor of standardised design solutions. The work should not be read as a criticism but as an alternative conceptual approach that runs along side regeneration thinking and introduces new ways of ‘talking’ between the past and present city landscapes.

Click here to go to Michael Branthwaite’s Website

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TALKING CITY is Anna Francis’ Longhouse Guest Editor project, for March 2010.

Click here to go to the project page.